Shaylon Cochran

News Reporter

Shaylon Cochran has been reporting on local government, energy, fishing and everything in between for KDLL since 2011. He earned a degree in journalism from Iowa State University and worked in radio news at KNIA/KRLS in Pella, Iowa, before visiting Alaska in 2010 and deciding this was the place to be. His work has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and Morning Edition and been recognized with awards from the Alaska Press Club. When he's not hosting the KDLL Evening News or the Kenai Conversation, you can usually find him biking or skiing around local trails, looking for his dog or sampling the latest from one of the peninsula's many fine breweries.

Ways to Connect

Saturday maybe wasn’t the perfect day for a paddle around Arc Lake, but it was pretty close. The city of Soldotna hosted a community paddling event, designed to share some safety tips and give folks a chance to try out some new boats and activities, like paddle board yoga, which I did not get to try. That class filled up quickly, but there was a fashion show of sorts.

Makai-Lynn Smith is an intern at the parks department in Soldotna. She helped organize the event.

After 10 years as executive director of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Jaylene Peterson-Nyren has resigned, effective June 16. A statement issued by the tribe says current Operations Director Dee Dee Fowler will lead the Tribal Council in its search for a new ED. During her time with the tribe, Peterson-Nyren oversaw the opening of the Dena’ina Wellness Center, the Tyotkas Elder Center and the new Henu’ Community Wellness Court, which began taking cases earlier this year.

Domestic assault charges filed against Kenai City Councilman Tim Navarre have been dropped. Navarre was charged with fourth-degree domestic violence assault last month after a witness alleged he threw a young child from the back of his car, landing several feet away. Navarre denied the charges and his attorney cited a state statute that justifies the use of force in special relationships, such as that between a parent or guardian and an under-aged child. Navarre told police at the time the 6-year-old who was in his care was set outside the vehicle after misbehaving.

The Henu' Wellness Court brings together the tribal and state courts to find a new path to recovery for people in legal trouble stemming from substance abuse.

As more and more communities deal with substance abuse issues, new tactics and new partnerships are being found to help those communities. Friday saw the grand opening of the Henu’ Community Wellness Court, which is a partnership between the state of Alaska and the Kenaitze Inidian Tribe.

Former Kenai City Manager Rick Koch is dead following a motorcycle accident near mile 39 of the Dalton Highway on Sunday.

Alaska State Troopers say Koch was riding in a group shortly before noon when his bike went off the road. He was first taken to Livengood where CPR was administered and a Guardian Flight from Fairbanks was dispatched. Flight medics pronounced him dead upon arrival.

Koch served as city manager in Kenai from 2006 to 2016, when he made a run for the state Legislature. He was 60 years old.